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Chautauqua School of Dance with the Music School Festival Orchestra
July 24, 2023
Chautauqua School of Dance with the Music School Festival Orchestra

Monday, July 24, 2023 • 8:15 p.m.
Amphitheater

Bradley Thachuk, Conductor

Ryo Hasegawa, David Effron Conducting Fellow (Adams)

Sasha Janes, Artistic Director - School of Dance

Timothy Muffitt, Artistic and Music Director - School of Music

Patricia McBride, Director of Ballet Studies and Principal Repetiteur

Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Principal Resident Coach

Spencer Myer, Piano

 Chautauqua School of Dance presents an outstanding mixed repertoire evening of new and established works, masterfully performed by the Music Student Festival Orchestra. This performance will feature the most exceptional young talent in the country. Under the leadership of Sasha Janes, the school continues its long tradition of excellence as a top-tier summer training program focused on bringing the next generation of dance stars from the studio to the stage.  

Program

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): excerpts from The Nutcracker

Choreography by Sasha Janes

Overture

Spanish Variation
Andrew Buckley, Eloisa Edginton, Pierce Gallagher, Aram Hengen, Jonimarie Purtle, Maggie Sorge

Arabian Variation
Karsen Gresham and Bryan Gregory

Russian Variation
Jacob Soltero

Marzipan
Eva Bendesky, Anya Chiu, Amelia Erich, Maddie Tyler, Eden Young

Mother Ginger:
Costume design by Linda Pisano
Performed by School of Dance Festival Students – Alina Chi, Aubrey Cordes, Abigail Goldberg, Phoebe Gray, Sarah Hudzik Jaidyn Janes, Majerle Loy, Sophia Rochios, Eliana Wade, Kate Waters, Ashlyn Wood, Natalie Yohrling, Bruno Khilkin Secches, Sebastian Sinclair

Waltz of the Flowers
Vanessa Meikle

Eva Bendesky, Emma Cilke, Anika Crouser, Noa Dean, Eloisa Edginton, Amelia Erich, Tess Fein, Sarah Hurty, Dylan Kattwinkel, Gianna Morette, Jessica Ousterhout Jonimarie Purtle, Emma Robinson, Maggie Sorge, Maddie Tyler, Eden Young

Grand Pas de Deux

Pas de Deux
Olivia Cornelius and Zachary Kushubar
 
Cavalier Variation
Zachary Kushubar
 
Sugarplum Variation
Olivia Cornelius
 
Coda
Olivia Cornelius and Zachary Kushubar
 
Costumes for Waltz of the Flowers and for the Sugarplum have been generously provided by Denise Cecere and the Northeast School of Ballet.

 

Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869): Grande Tarantelle for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 67

Choreography by George Balanchine
Arranged by Hershy Kay
Staged by Patricia McBride

Anya Chiu and Jacob Soltero

This performance of Tarantella, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

 

John Adams (b. 1947): The Chairman Dances

Ryo Hasegawa, Conductor 

Choreography by Kara Wilkes
Costume Design by Jessica Toby Lustig

Retailer 1 – Aram Hengen
Retailer 2 – Karsen Gresham
Retailer 3 – Zachary Kushubar

Consumer 1 – Thomas Kingsbury
Consumer 2 – Natalia Burns

Crew: Andrew Buckley, Abbie Gross, Eden Young, Bryan Gregory, Eva Bendesky, Tess Fein, Emma Cilke, Emma Robinson

 

Intermission

 

Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848): Variations from "Don Sebastian"

Choreography by George Balanchine
Staged by Patricia McBride
Premiered November 16, 1960

Jessica Ousterhout and Thomas Kingsbury

Natalia Burns, Emma Cilke, Noa Dean, Amelia Erich, Sarah Hurty, Maddie Tyler

Andrew Buckley, Pierce Gallagher, Aram Hengen

This performance of Donizetti Variations, a Balanchine® Ballet, is presented by arrangement with The George Balanchine Trust and has been produced in accordance with the Balanchine Style® and Balanchine Technique® Service standards established and provided by the Trust.

Orchestra Roster

The MSFO incorporates a rotational seating policy. 

Flute
Jocelyn Zhang
Ivo Shin de Souza
Josean Delgado

Oboe
Kearsen Erwin
Brian Stewart
Nathalie Vela

Clarinet
Aaron Lipsky
Nathan Magley
Katia Waxman

Bassoon
Alexander Lake
Lauren Hallonquist
Miranda Macias

Horn
Dena Levy
Trenton Carr
Samuel Himes
Katya Jarmulowicz
Gretchen Berendt

Trumpet
Fiona Shonik
Kevin Skinkis
Jeremy Bryant

Trombone
Tsz Yin Ho
Dane Magruder
Evan Beachy, bass trombone

Tuba
Ian Graves

Percussion
Seth Tupy
Karel Zambrano
Izaiah Gonzales
Jake Haskins                                                                                                  Pedro Fernandez

Harp
Zibin Zhou

Piano
Xiaowen Xu

Spencer Myer*

Celeste
Grace Tubbs

Violin 1
Noah Arcenas, concertmaster
Jameson Darcy
Caroline Cornell
Rachel Lawton
Sarah Yang
Ian Jenson
Gabriel Roth
Laura Herrera
Kate Nelson
Jaewon Jun
Nora Wang
Eric Yun

Violin 2
Amelia Posner-Hess, principal
Matthew Musachio
Hobart Shi
Noah Ghosh
Evan Schuman
Gabriella Foster
Pavlo Kyryluik
Wendi Li
John Heo
Valerie Xu-Friedman
Emma Johnson
Carlos Chacon

Viola
Kate Reynolds, principal
Mack Jones
Lily Jonsson
Diego Mieres
Joia Findeis
Ho Fei Ng
Anna Stein
Jeongjae Lee
Mira Vaughn
Owne Xayboury

Cello
Adrian Hsieh, principal
Sofia Puccio
Layla Morris
Maria Savarese
Jooahn Yoo
Ari Scott
Anna Holmes
Abby Hanna
Griffin Seuter
Teo Dage

Bass
Emily Green, principal
Eric Reigelsperger
Danny Sesi
Jane Hanneman
JoHanna Arnold
Duo Chen
Olivia McCallum

*Gottshalk

Spencer Myer - Bio


            Lauded for “superb playing” and “poised, alert musicianship” by The Boston Globe and labeled “definitely a man to watch” by London’s The Independent, American pianist SPENCER MYER is one of the most respected and sought-after artists on today’s concert stages.

            Spencer Myer’s 2023-24 season includes touring throughout the United States, highlighted by his debut engagement with Oregon’s Eugene Symphony Orchestra. He returns to Michigan’s Traverse Symphony Orchestra, this time for a pair of recitals on its “Maestro Series.” Mr. Myer continues as half of the Daurov/Myer Duo, having teamed up with the award-winning cellist Adrian Daurov in 2012.

            Spencer Myer’s orchestral, recital and chamber music performances have been heard throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia. He has been soloist with, among many others, The Cleveland Orchestra, Boise, Dayton, Evansville, Louisiana, Massapequa, Northeastern Pennsylvania and Rhode Island philharmonic orchestras, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus, the Altoona, Bangor, Baton Rouge, Bozeman, Canton, Chattanooga, Duluth Superior, Flagstaff, Grand Junction, Indianapolis, Juneau, Knoxville, Longmont, Macon, Missoula, New Haven, Omaha, Phoenix, Ridgefield, San Juan, Santa Fe, Springfield (MA, MO, OH), Traverse, Tucson and Wyoming symphony orchestras, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, New York City’s The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, Canada’s Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Mexico’s Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco, South Africa’s Cape Town and Johannesburg philharmonic orchestras and Beijing’s China National Symphony Orchestra, collaborating with, among others, conductors David Bernard, Nicholas Cleobury, Kayoko Dan, David Danzmayr, Robert Franz, Neal Gittleman, Bernhard Gueller, Jacques Lacombe, Jahja Ling, Dirk Meyer, Elliot Moore, Timothy Muffitt, Maurice Peress, Kyle Wiley Pickett, Arthur Post, Kevin Rhodes, Lucas Richman, Matthew Savery, Alfred Savia, Klauspeter Seibel, Steven Smith, Gerald Steichen, Arjan Tien, Peter Stafford Wilson and Victor Yampolsky. His 2005 recital/orchestral tour of South Africa included a performance of the five piano concerti of Beethoven with the Chamber Orchestra of South Africa, followed by four return orchestra and recital tours between 2006 and 2018.

            Spencer Myer’s recital appearances have been presented in New York City’s Weill Recital Hall, 92nd Street Y and Steinway Hall, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center and London’s Wigmore Hall, while many of his performances have been broadcast on WQXR (New York City), WHYY (Philadelphia), WCLV (Cleveland) and WFMT (Chicago). An in-demand chamber musician, he appeared for five summers at the Lev Aronson Legacy Festival in Dallas with cellists Lynn Harrell, Ralph Kirshbaum, Amit Peled and Brian Thornton, and enjoys a recurring partnership with the Miami String Quartet at the Kent/Blossom Music Festival. Other artistic partners include clarinetist David Shifrin, Cardiff Singer of the World winner Nicole Cabell, the Jupiter, Manhattan and Pacifica string quartets and the Dorian Wind Quintet. Festival appearances have included those of the Annapolis Chamber, Bard, Blossom, Cape Cod Chamber, Colorado, Gina Bachauer, Jackson Hole, Mendocino, Ravinia, Rocky Ridge and Skaneateles music festivals, Canada’s Concerts aux Iles du Bic, Spain’s Gijon International Piano Festival and Valencia International Piano Academy, and Indonesia’s Yogyakarta International Music Festival.

            Spencer Myer’s career was launched with three important prizes: First Prize in the 2004 UNISA International Piano Competition in South Africa, the 2006 Christel DeHaan Classical Fellowship from the American Pianists Association and the Gold Medal from the 2008 New Orleans International Piano Competition. Additionally, he is a laureate of the 2007 William Kapell, 2005 Cleveland and 2005 Busoni international piano competitions. He also enjoys an expanding reputation as a vocal collaborator since winning the 2000 Marilyn Horne Foundation Competition. Mr. Myer was a member of Astral Artists’ performance roster from 2003-2010.

            An enthusiastic supporter of the education of young musicians, Spencer Myer has been a frequent guest artist at workshops for students and teachers, and has served on the faculties of the Baldwin-Wallace University and Oberlin College conservatories of music. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, The Juilliard School and Stony Brook University. From 2012 to 2022, he held appointment as Artist-Teacher in Piano and Collaborative Piano at the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mr. Myer was the subject of the cover interview in the January/February 2019 issue of The Piano Magazine: Clavier Companion, relating his thoughts on practicing, performing, teaching and mentoring the next generation of pianists. In the Spring of 2022, Mr. Myer was appointed Associate Professor of Music in Piano at Indiana University Bloomington’s Jacobs School of Music.

            Spencer Myer’s debut CD for harmonia mundi usa - solo music of Busoni, Copland, Debussy and Kohs - was released in the fall of 2007 to critical acclaim by Fanfare and Gramophone magazines. He can also be heard on a composer-conducted Naxos CD in performances of three concerti from Huang Ruo’s Chamber Concerto Cycle and in a performance of Ravel’s Chansons madécasses, included on "Intimate Masterpieces," a 2013 CD featuring faculty and alumni of the Oberlin Conservatory and issued by Oberlin Music. Mr. Myer’s most recent four recordings – "William Bolcom: Piano Rags,” the Brahms Cello Sonatas with Brian Thornton, the Debussy Cello Sonata and Brahms Clarinet Trio with Brian Thornton and Afendi Yusuf, and Schumann’s works for cello and piano, with Brian Thornton – are available on the Steinway & Sons label. In the Fall of 2022, Steinway Classics released “Chopin: The Four Impromptus”; the album is available worldwide through all download and streaming services.

            In the fall of 2020, Spencer Myer was elected to the Board of Directors of the New York City-based Musicians Foundation (est. 1914).

 

            Spencer Myer is a Steinway Artist.       www.spencermyer.com

About the MSFO

Comprised of top-tier students from conservatories and universities in the U.S. and abroad, Music School Festival Orchestra members participate in a variety of musical activities during their summers at Chautauqua including chamber music and private lessons along with their meticulous orchestral training. Alumni from the MSFO can be heard in many of the world’s top orchestras and chamber ensembles and can be found on music faculties worldwide. The MSFO is led by Artistic Director Timothy Muffitt, who serves as Music Director of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and Music Director Laureate of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.

Donor Recognition - MSFO
"The Morton and Natalie Abramson Scholarship for Violin, Viola, Cello” (*)
The Marsha J. Alico Memorial Music Scholarship
A. Chace Anderson Fine and Performing Arts Scholarship
Peggy and Andy Anderson Family Scholarship Fund
Richard W. Antemann Memorial Scholarship
The Richard & Eleanor Aron Music Scholarship
The Michael L. Barnett Scholarship Fund
The Ellen and James M. Barton Memorial Music Scholarship
Barton Family Scholarship
The Chuck Berginc Scholarship
Dr. and Mrs. Arthur E. Bestor Scholarship Fund
The Margaret B. Blossom Scholarship
Alexander W. & Edna L. Bouchal Memorial Scholarship
Lowell and Frances Hyam Brentano Fund
Shirley Budke Memorial Fund for Blind Students
Dorothy Dann Bullock Award
The Edwin L. Bullock Scholarship
The Lillian B. Bullock Scholarship
Anne S. Burden Music Scholarship
Sarah Miller Caldicott Piano Scholarship
The Robert and Andrea Cali Scholarship
The Carnahan-Jackson Scholarship Fund
The Chautauqua Amateur Musicians Program (C.A.M.P.) Scholarship
Clark Scholarship Fund
Joseph Clarke Scholarship Fund
Clarkson Family Scholarship
The Theodore R. Colborn Scholarship
The William Cole/King Scholarship
Beverly and Bruce Conner Scholarship Fund
James and Barbara Copeland Scholarship Fund
The Bettsy and Ellis Cowling Scholarship for Music
The Deanna Cox Scholarship “In Memory of Virginia Cox” (*)
The Daley Family Fund
Eleanor B. Daugherty Scholarship Fund
The Erroll & Elaine Davis Scholarship
The Elaine and Erroll Davis Scholarship for Violin (*)
The Elaine and Erroll Davis Scholarship for Woodwind (*)
Dietrich Family Endowment for Music At Chautauqua
The Rachel W. Eaton Scholarship
The Bina Edkin Eckerd Memorial Fund for the Fine and Performing Arts
The David Effron Conducting Fellowship
The Falk Scholarship Fund
Genevieve Foote Findley Scholarship
Ted and Deborah First Scholarship
Ann and Bob Fletcher Scholarship (*)
The Luella Morris Forney Memorial Scholarship
Wilbur D. Forney Memorial Scholarship Fund
Dr. Stephen Fudell Memorial Scholarship Endowment
Ellen and J Marcus Fultz Scholarship “In Memory of Arline W. Bernstein” (*)
The Harriet B. and Ralph T. Geller Memorial Scholarship
Glendorn Foundation Scholarship Fund
The Rosalyn Goldberg Scholarship Fund
The Alfred E. Goldman Scholarship
The Jessie D. Grassie Class of 1882 Scholarship
Don & Kathleen Greenhouse Scholarship
Don & Kathleen Greenhouse Scholarship
The Groff-Simpson Family Scholarship
The Arlene Hajinlian Music Scholarship
G. Thomas & Kathleen Harrick Music Scholarship
Harris Scholarship for Performing Arts
Ruth Higby Haver and Della and David Higby Music Scholarship
Hebrew Congregation Music Award
Robert P. Hiller Scholarship Fund
The Arthur and Arlene Holden Scholarship for Chautauqua
W.T. Holland Memorial Piano Scholarship Endowment
Elke Kieserling Hoppe Scholarship
Ruth M. Skinner Hutchins Scholarship Fund
The Dorothy M. Jackson Memorial Scholarship in Piano
The Lucinda Ely Johnson Scholarship
Rebecca M. and Dr. Alan Kamen Cello Scholarship
The Nancy and Norman Karp Scholarship Fund
Thomas E. Kaufman Memorial Music Scholarship
The Kaylor Family Scholarship
The Danny Kayne Music Scholarship Fund
The Steve and Barb Landay Scholarship
Felicia and Andy Landis Memorial Fund
Nancy Langston Scholarship  “In Memory of Richard E. Langston, Jr.” (*)
The Lapenna-Koch Scholarship
The Marilyn G. Levinson and Nathan Gottschalk First Chair Award for MSFO Endowment
Craig J. Luchsinger Memorial Scholarship for Violin
Saul and Linda Ludwig Piano Scholarship
The Sal and Kay Marranca Piano Scholarship
The Lucille J. McClure Memorial Music Scholarship Fund
Samuel R. McClure II Brass Scholarship
The Ernest W. and Jeannette McClure Polley Scholarship
Everett and Sarah Holden Mclaren Scholarship
Hilda Jo Anne Milham Scholarship
Milks Family Scholarship for Brass Music
The Ralph J. Miller and Florence L. Miller Memorial Scholarship in Music
Laurie Miller Piano Scholarship
The Augusta L. Ebert Molyneaux Scholarship
The Elmer G. Molyneaux Scholarship
The Mary Louise Molyneaux Scholarship
Moore Scholarship Fund for Music
Jack I. and Barbara J. Morris Memorial Cello Scholarship
Gertrude T. Munger Piano Award Fund
George E. and Susan Moran Murphy Scholarship
Music School Festival Orchestra Scholarship
NFMC - New York Federation Award (^)
NFMC - Ohio Federation Award (^)
NFMC - Pennsylvania Federation Award (^)
Lily Lee Nixon Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Nobel Scholarship
The William F. Northrop Memorial Music Scholarship
CWC - The Judy and Hale Oliver Scholarship for Piano (*)
The Fayette S. Olmstead Foundation Scholarship
Mary Elizabeth Peffer Music Scholarship
Pennsylvania Scholarship Fund
Pennybacker Memorial Scholarship
The Penrose-Mahaffey Scholarship Fund
Charles John Petre Memorial Fund Trombone Award
William and Jane Pfefferkorn Scholarship for Music
Piano Scholarship
Robert and Mary Pickens Scholarship
Henry Rauch Memorial Scholarship
The Douglas A. Raynow Memorial Scholarship
The Reed Family Scholarship
Joseph W. and Marilyn Hyder Richey Scholarship Endowment
Rizzolo Family Fund
The Catherine Prussing Rodgers Scholarship
The Josette and Ronald Rolley Scholarship
Glen and Ruth Roush Scholarship Fund
Elmer S. and H. Lorraine Sachse Scholarship Fund
The Sack Family Scholarship
Ann and Isidor Saslav Violin Scholarship In Honor of Mischa Mischakoff
The Henrietta W. Schlager Scholarship
Kuniko Washio Scollard Scholarship Fund for Music
Shreveport Friends' Music Scholarship
Suzanne Shull Scholarship “In Memory of Kay Logan” (*)
Ronald Perry Smith Scholarship Fund
The Dr. William T. and Virginia W. Smyth Fund
Soulful Bliss Fund
Robert and Joan Spirtas Scholarship
Ted & Ruth Steegmann Piano Scholarship
The Madge Ryan Stirniman Scholarship
Tustin Memorial Fund
Glenn G. Vance Music Scholarship Fund
MSFO Brass scholarship in memory of Robert Vitkowsky
Nina T. Wensley Scholarship
The Drs. Frits & Corrie Wiebenga Scholarship Fund
The Rachel Wilder and Phil Lerman Scholarship
Chautauqua Women's Club General Scholarship
MSFO Scholarship in memory of Allen and Elizabeth Wood
Mary Chenoweth Wright Scholarship Endowment
The John B. Yoder Music Scholarship
Chadwick Young Scholarship
 
^These scholarships are awarded through the National Federation of Music Clubs.

*These scholarships are administered through the Chautauqua Women’s Club.

 

Endowments:

 
Charles Heinz and Louise Heinz Lockhart Fund
Music School Festival Orchestra Fund
 
 
Underwriter:
 
The Hultquist Foundation, Inc., Jamestown, NY
Donor Recognition - School of Dance
The Richard and Eleanor Aron Dance Scholarship
Barbara and Donald Bernstein Scholarship
Bonnefoux/McBride Dance Scholarship
June and Albert Bonyor Scholarship Fund for Ballet
The Chautauqua Dance Circle Scholarship
Chautauqua Women's Club Dance Scholarship (*) 
The Miriam Yanes Eddleman Dance Scholarship
Edith Reid Flaster Memorial Dance Scholarship
Marjorie Geller Memorial Dance Scholarship
William and Pauline Higie School of Dance Scholarship
Barbara and Joel Jacob Dance Scholarship
The Karin A. and Melvin H. Johnson Dance Scholarship
Jeff and Lois Long Dance Scholarship “In Honor of Cecilia Ford” (*)
Sharon and Al McClymonds Dance Scholarship (*)
The Abe Neches Scholarship for Dance
Susan O’Connor Baird Dance Scholarship (*)
The Bernard Paul Memorial Scholarship Fund
Rosalie H. Pembridge Dance Scholarship
Phil and Rachel Rogers Scholarship
Bonnie Rosenthal Dance Scholarship
A. Pope and Peggy B. Shuford Dance Scholarship
Scholarship in Honor of Abigail Simon
Daphne Whitman Dance Scholarship (*)
The Harriet G. Yanes Dance Scholarship
 
*These scholarships are administered through the Chautauqua Women’s Club.
 
Endowments:
The Paul and Toni Branch Fund for Dance
Carnahan-Jackson Dance Chair Endowment
The Carnahan-Jackson Dance Endowment
Chautauqua Dance Endowment
Dakin Family Fund for Dance
The Edith B. and Arthur E. Earley Fund for the Performing Arts
Craig and Cathrine Greene Family Fund
Terrie Vaile Hauck Dance Endowment
Moore Fund for Dance